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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

“But the most powerful part of that plaque for me is “Love, Dad”—because it really tells the story of our journey. For many years, I referred to my father by his first name, in conversation with others, and maybe even to him directly, or I didn’t address him really in any sort of paternalistic way. But he has earned that title.”

Pressley Credits Her Commitment to Criminal Legal Reform to her Family’s & Father’s Experience with Incarceration

Video (YouTube)

WASHINGTON – In their first joint interview, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) shared a heartfelt conversation with her father Martin and GBH Boston Public Radio hosts Jim and Margery ahead of Father’s Day. Through stunning personal anecdotes, Congresswoman Pressley and her father explore the winding journey, joys, and hardships of their relationship through and after her father’s incarceration.

Congresswoman Pressley credits her commitment to criminal legal reform to her family’s and father’s experience with incarceration.

A full transcript of Congresswoman Pressley’s interview with her father is available below and the video is available here.

Transcript: In First Joint Interview, Rep. Pressley and her Father Mr. Martin Terrell Share Stunning Personal Story of Forgiveness, Growth, & Love

U.S. House of Representatives

May 18, 2026

JIM BRAUDE: Welcome to BPR, I’m Jim Braude, she is Margery Eagen, and we are streaming at YouTube.com/GBHNews. We’ve talked often with Massachusetts Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley on the show. Born in Cincinnati, raised in Chicago, Pressley’s an only child like me. 

Raised by the late tenants’ rights organizer Sandra Pressley, her rock during childhood and college, Pressley credits her mother with instilling in her dedication to public service and activism. Her father, Martin Terrell, was not there for much of her childhood, struggling with addiction, spending 16 years in and out of prison. 

Ayanna Pressley came to Boston to go to BU. She stayed here, and in 2009 she became the first woman of color elected to Boston City Council, and in 2018 another first—winning a seat in Congress, the first woman of color ever to do so in our state’s history.

“Can a congresswoman wear her hair in braids, rock a black leather jacket, and wait a minute, and a bold red lip? When it comes to women of color candidates, folks don’t just talk about a glass ceiling, what they describe is a concrete one. But you know what breaks through concrete? Seismic shifts.”

Listening proudly in the crowd that night, her father, Martin Terrell. Once free, went on to spend two decades working in higher ed, including at the United Negro College Fund, and writing in 2021, You’re Only Innocent Once and Once Is Not Enough, and more recently, an incredibly powerful collection of poetry that was in 2024, Unseen Scars. You can find more about his work and writings on his website, martinterrell.com.

Father and daughter both join us on Zoom for their first joint interview. Congresswoman, Martin Terrell, it’s a pleasure to have you here both together. Thanks so much.

MR. TERRELL: It’s good to be here, particularly with my daughter.

JIM: I had a feeling that was true. 

MARGERY EAGEN: Let’s start with that. Congresswoman, what was it like to have your dad with you that night when you, your election night?

REP. PRESSLEY: Well, you know, in my formative years, there were so many milestones that we were robbed of, and so increasingly it’s been a great joy and a privilege to have him for so many of these defining moments in my life. 

When he was at my high school graduation when I gave the commencement speech, he was there in the City Council when I first was inaugurated, he was there election night for Congress, and most of all, he walked me down the aisle to the love of my life, his son-in-love, who he has an extraordinary bond with. So I’m just so grateful for our journey.

MARGERY: What was it like to be there for those moments?

MR. TERRELL: Each of those things were very important to me, but I think the crowning achievement—her mom had gotten married to another man who was important to her—but what was important to me was that I was the one chosen to walk her down the aisle, and that to me was one of the crowning achievements of our relationship. 

And throughout the years we had done many things together, one of the most important was how I had gone to her high school graduation, and she, in her kindness, showed me her speech, like I could look at her and judge what she could talk about, because she was always a better talker than her dad. She continues to do that. 

What do we want with our children? We want them to be better than us, and she’s proven that, because she’s better than I am.

JIM: You know, Martin Terrell, I feel I have to be transparent with you. I don’t know if your daughter’s ever told you that election night, when she was running for Congress, I had predicted regularly on this show that Ayanna Pressley was going to get crushed by the incumbent by 30 points, and it didn’t turn out that way. I just feel I have to tell you that to establish our relationship. 

Congresswoman, speaking of your father and his pride, I was told by a reliable source that when you were sworn in to Congress, your father gave you a plaque that you keep in your office.

You’re nodding. What does that plaque say?

REP. PRESSLEY: It just speaks to his pride, I think. What’s most resonant for me, I mean, my dad is a wordsmith. He is a, he is a writer. He was a professor of journalism. He’s written textbooks, he’s written biographies, autobiographies, poetry. So he’s never short for words, and he’s very eloquent.

But the most powerful part of that plaque for me is “Love, Dad”—because it really tells the story of our journey.

For many years, I referred to my father by his first name, in conversation with others, and maybe even to him directly, or I didn’t address him really in any sort of paternalistic way. But he has earned that title. 

I’m extraordinarily proud of him, and Dad, one of the moments that stays with me, perhaps at my high school graduation, when I was delivering the commencement address, and afterwards you said to me, you were very emotional, and I said, “Dad, why are you so upset?”

 And you said, “Because you’re extraordinary, and I didn’t have much to do with it.”

And, and I corrected you then, and I have many times since then, because it’s simply not true. I don’t only have your cheekbones and your long nose, you know.

I credit you for informing and shaping my Black consciousness. For all of the books that you sent me when you were incarcerated. It’s because of you that I know Baldwin and Malcolm X and Langston Hughes and Nikki Giovanni and Sonia Sanchez.

And so I just hope you know that even when life got in the way, I knew I was loved by you. You were still parenting me.

And although my mother has been featured prominently in my origin story, that I claim you vigorously, gladly, proudly, and you have so much to do with who I am today.

MR. TERRELL: That has always meant the world to me. Because I see you, I’ve written some, and some poetry about you, and it’s just too long to read here.

But you are my flower. 

I mean, from the moment, you know, when you came home, you were an early child, and you had to be in an incubator, and your mom and I, you couldn’t sleep by yourself, so you couldn’t—you had to sleep on my chest right here.

And somehow that, that chest melted into my heart. That’s where you really fell, and I don’t know, never left there.

REP. PRESSLEY: Thank you, Dad. I always knew that I was loved, and you know, I have to say, my mother did an extraordinary job in that way.

She always made sure I knew when my father was incarcerated that I was conceived in love, that I was wanted, that my father wanted a daughter, that he was often the only one that could call me.

And so, even in my childhood, not understanding addiction, and that it is a disease, and even in all the ways that I felt resentment for his absence—I always knew that I was loved, and I always knew that I was wanted.

JIM: How are you able, Congresswoman—it’s interesting what you just said. How were you able, in one body, to feel resentment at the same time, that the person whose lack of physical presence you resented, you also felt loved by? How did they fit into each other?

REP. PRESSLEY: Yeah, because my mother never spoke ill of him, you know. And you know, as a child, when there would be moments when he would call, and I wouldn’t want to speak to him, but she prioritized those things.

And when I would travel to Ohio, where he was incarcerated, to visit my godmother in the summers, it was very important to my mother that I visit him, that we have time together, even if that could be traumatizing or triggering in its own ways. 

So those lived experiences really shape the work that I do now in criminal legal reform. Why I understand how important those familiar bonds are when someone is incarcerated, and how important they are in re-entering, to break the cycles of recidivism.

JIM: We want to discuss the work you’re both doing, but I don’t want to leave this just for a second. I want to hear Martin, if I may—on the other side of the spectrum, your daughter described what it was like not having you there, even though she also described the connections. How hard was that for you?

MR. TERRELL: Well, at first it was extremely hard, because when she left, she went to Chicago with her mom, and leaving me there in Ohio, it was like part of my soul had been taken away

.

But as she said, her mom kept, kept the time—her mom never berated me, and that kept me alive with Ayanna. Though at times it was difficult for her, as she said, but that spark was alive in me, and that kept me churning inside, even as I was locked up.

But I was able to do little things that kept me in touch with her, that I knew that we were still alive to one another.

So I was able to continue on in her success, and the little things that she had, that I could touch her, and those small things. So our absence was not a total absence.

It was a knowledge, and we cared for one another, and we still had a link. But talking is the key—that there was still a link there, and without that link I would have been crushed.

MARGERY: Martin Terrell is, of course, the father of our Congresswoman, Ayanna Pressley, here in Boston, written two books, You’re Only Innocent Once and Once Is Not Enough, plus, your book of poetry from 2024, Unseen Scars. You said you could grace us with reading one of your poems today, Martin. You got one picked out for us?

MR. TERRELL: Here’s one of them, I call this one Still A Slave.

After the war of northern aggression, northerners picked slaves up, dressed them in freedom, pen stroked them free, christened them as negroes, and loosed them blindly upon the land.

And after seeing what they had done, northerners smiled and felt morally superior to southerners.

But southerners knew the negro was still a slave by another name and continued to treat him as one over time.

Negro slave quarters became the ghetto, and the new slave quarters, the inner city.

Slaves of the inner city weren’t negro or even black, they were educated African-Americans with a hyphen, and still treated as slaves.

Inner city slaves became slaves to their own enslavement, unwitting victims and architects of their own destruction.

And Southerners smiled.

JIM: Wow, Mr. Terrell.

You know, I remember reading, Congresswoman, that on a particular Father’s Day, and maybe it was more than one Father’s Day, you spoke to the fact that—I find this number stunning and so depressing—that at any one time, as many as 2 million people in this country have at least one parent who’s incarcerated.

What was the core of your message to those younger people who had at least one parent not with them?

REP. PRESSLEY: I wanted to look to bring visibility to what it is when that is your family model, that you have an incarcerated loved one or parent, and what is the impact of that?

There was great shame that I carried about having an incarcerated parent, about my father’s absence.

There was no shame for me to carry in that, and as I grew older and better understood systems and policies, and the conditions that created that for my father, and what made the path harder, but also the things that uplifted him. You know, like Second Chance Pell Grants, and how central that was to the degrees that he earned while incarcerated, and once he was no longer incarcerated.

So I wanted those children to know that I saw them, and I wanted to bring visibility to their struggles, to their hardship, and maybe take some of that shame and isolation away,

MARGERY: You know, Martin Terrell, we mentioned before, you’ve had an extraordinary career, United Negro College Fund, Academic Dean, higher education, writing these two books. How did, how did this happen for you? I mean, did you, were you studying during the time you were incarcerated? Did you study before? How did it work?

MR. TERRELL: Well, it didn’t begin in prison. I had an opportunity in Cincinnati to go to a college prep school, and at that school, that’s where I got the bug to get educated.

And throughout my life I just had an opportunity to want an education. Now, in different environments, it’s not as easy to find that channel to get a good education.

So, when I went to prison, I was in a different channel, but I never lost that drive to be educated, and I always had the tools to get that education, and I just fortunately was in a prison that had a joint program with the college. And since I was in there for six to 25 years for something I didn’t do, I had a chance to hook into that college, you got free time, use it.

MARGERY: And you got a big scholarship to journalism school, I read as well, which is, you know, that’s pretty impressive.

MR. TERRELL: That was unusual. [laughter]

MARGERY: Yeah, I bet. [laughter]

JIM: You know, Congresswoman, can I go back to something you said before, that is stay with me through this discussion. You said that for a time you referred to Martin Terrell, your father as Martin, and then all of—not all of a sudden, you didn’t say that—but then he was “Dad.”

What was the moment that caused that, and what was the thought process that was in you? [sic] –to make that transition?

REP. PRESSLEY: Yeah, there was more of a regular cadence of communication. Dad, if I might, in my experience, when my dad came out, neither of my parents ever coddled me or patronized me. Like my mother never talked, baby talked to me, you know.

And when you’re an only child, you see the humanity of your parents much earlier, right? So they kind of level with you about things.

And, Dad, you may not remember this, but when my dad came out, he said, “You know, I’ve been gone. I think I’m going to focus first on being your friend.”

He wasn’t someone that came out immediately, like, “Let me go and do the paternalistic, bang my chest sort of thing.”

And maybe there was a part of me that did want that, because I sort of made him a superhero in my mind, and I attributed every hardship that I experienced, every trauma to his absence.

So maybe I wanted some of that paternalistic protective thing. But he just leveled with me, like I’m not going to immediately say, you know, “Hey dad, do this or consider this,” he really wanted to establish a friendship and a trust with me.

And then I would say, Jim and Margery, the inflection point certainly was the transition of my mother. When my mother passed away, he really took on an even more pronounced and active and intentional role.

JIM: You know, Martin, were you nervous when once you were out and you began reestablishing a deeper relationship with your daughter. Were you worried that she wouldn’t be accepting of you?

MR. TERRELL: Well, I knew that she had established herself, and she knew who she was, and she really didn’t know who I was totally at the time.

So as she said, I was leery about coming on to her as her dad, so I wanted to take things slowly, because I wasn’t sure how to be with her, because I hadn’t taken responsibility for her, I was locked up, so I wanted to take it slow.

I wanted to be her dad, but I didn’t want to put her off by trying to be her dad, and I hadn’t been. I was locked up, so I wanted her to take the time to see me as a dad. That’s what I tried to do.

MARGERY: So, Martin Terrell, you’ve been there for a lot of these moments. As Congresswoman Pressley just said, high school graduation, the night she beat Michael Capuano to become—and went on to become our Congresswoman here. What—

JIM: —Walking down that aisle.

MARGERY: Walking down that aisle as well. What, what are you most proud of in your daughter, Ayanna Pressley? What makes you the most proud?

MARTIN TERRELL: There are so many moments in her life that I’m very proud of, but one of the things that I’m very, very proud of is the way that she takes time to look at where she is and doesn’t jump. I can remember when she wanted to go from City Council, to Councilperson. [sic]

She took her time and decided, this is where I want to go. She didn’t make a decision momentarily to do that.

And she, she had a lot of guys who were interested in her as a woman. But she decided that, look, here’s a guy who’s a man. Here’s a guy who’s interested in me as a woman, and can be the kind of man that I can respect and love. And he was the kind of man that I could love.

He was a real guy, and that’s what I was proud of, her that she could see the difference between a boyfriend and a man friend, and that’s—

JIM: Don’t interrupt him, Ayanna Pressley. I know you’re tempted to, don’t do that. Keep going, Martin Terrell.

MARTIN TERRELL: And to me, she had reached a maturity that made her a real woman, and that’s what I’m most proud of her.

JIM: Ayanna Pressley, before we go, what are you most proud of in Martin Terrell?

REP. PRESSLEY: Yeah, I mean, he just overcomes so much. He’s beloved by his siblings, he’s an adored big brother. You know, I’m just impressed with all he’s overcome, you know.

And I want to say a moment that stands out in my mind, Dad, is that my wedding, and that first dance. And you know, again, my mother always made sure I knew I was conceived in love, and so a song that I really associate with my childhood is Stevie Wonders, “Isn’t She Lovely.”

And we played that every birthday as a tribute to both of my parents, because my mother talked about the significance of that Stevie Wonder song, and how, how much it meant to her and my father about me.

And that was what we danced to, our first song together with Stevie Wonder, “Isn’t She Lovely?”

So I’m just…I thank God that my dad never gave up on me. I thank God that I never gave up on my dad. And that we never gave up on we.

And when I do go to places like MCI-Norfolk, that’s the appeal that I make to the men that are incarcerated there, who I see so much of my father in them.

Don’t stop fighting for your children, even when they ignore you, even when they seek to distance themselves, even when they withdraw. They’re paying attention, and it means everything, even when you might feel that they don’t care anymore.

Because I clung to that, that even in my adolescence, in my lack of understanding that his addiction was a disease, and all the resentments that I had caught up in that, the thing that I clumped to was that I was loved.

He never stopped fighting for me. It didn’t matter if I opened the letters or not. It didn’t matter if I opened the gifts or not. He never stopped.

JIM: On that note, I can’t thank you both enough for spending time with us today. Martin, it was an honor to meet you. Thanks for your time, and Congresswoman, as always. Thank you. This is really something special. Thanks so much.

REP. PRESSLEY: Thanks, Dad. You’re just so darn cute.

JIM: He is pretty cute, by the way. If I may add, he is a pretty cute guy. Good to see you two.

MARGERY: Thank you so much for being with us. And congratulations, Martin Terrell, for your great work. And Congresswoman, thank you very much.

MR. TERRELL: This has been great, thanks for letting us share this.

MARGERY: Absolutely, we’re happy to. Grateful to.

You’ve been speaking with Massachusetts Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley and her father, Martin Terrell. You can read all, get information about his books at Martinterrell.com. Thank you again for being with us.

I’m Margery Eagen, he’s Jim Braude. You’re listening to Boston Public Radio, streaming at YouTube.com/GBH News.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)

NEW ORLEANS, La.—Last night, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) appeared on Fox Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street to discuss how House Republicans are lowering costs, combating fraud, protecting election integrity, and supporting President Trump’s efforts to advance peace in the Middle East. Leader Scalise also highlighted the contrast between the millions visiting America for the World Cup, many of whom have gone viral praising what makes our country great, and far-left Democrats who continue to disparage the nation they call home.

Click here or the image above to view Leader Scalise’s full interview.
Highlights from Leader Scalise’s interview with Maria Bartiromo:On President Trump bringing peace, lowering costs, and uniting allies:“As the Vice President just said, it’s important that you see President Trump working to get a peace deal. This has been the Peace President. But ultimately, the objectives have been the same from the beginning from President Trump, and that is to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. No other president has done that. Every president has wanted to do it, thought about doing it, but frankly, some of the past deals allowed Iran to move forward to get a nuclear weapon. And so this has taken us in the opposite direction by, number one, destroying their nuclear capabilities. The enriched uranium’s clearly going to be on the table, but you can see from oil prices already, we’ve already seen a 30% drop in the price of a barrel of oil just in the last 2 months because the President announced this deal. Prices, as you mentioned, are below $4 a gallon and heading in the right direction for families. So that’s an important point that shows that I think most people realize this is probably the closest we’ve come. Reagan said trust but verify, which we obviously will do. But I think it shows that this president has put together an amazing coalition. All the Middle Eastern countries are united with the United States against Iran. That had never happened before.”On House Republicans making life more affordable for Americans:“There’s still many things that we want to do. If you look, there’s a major housing bill that we just got an agreement over a few days ago, and this is a bill that will lower housing costs. Again, a very important issue for families across America. French Hill, his committee did a phenomenal job at negotiating a deal with the Senate, and this is a bipartisan agreement, Maria, a bill that will get to President Trump’s desk.“President Trump called for a housing bill. We’re gonna deliver that for him, maybe as early as next week. So I think that’s a major victory that we’re still working towards. We’re also working towards reconciliation 3.0. I get it’s hard. You know, you wake up every day with a two-seat majority. You don’t have to tell me how hard things are. We came here to do hard things, to do important things. We’re focused on fraud in that reconciliation bill to save taxpayers money so we can stop these crazy learing centers and literally theft of taxpayer money that’s going on all across this country. I’ve been working with people like Dr. Oz, who’s laid out a lot of things that he’s seen and some of these important programs that Americans count on where criminal organizations, in many cases from foreign countries, are stealing up to $100 billion of your tax dollars. We’re focused on that in a reconciliation bill. Sadly, Democrats are all against it. That’s why John Thune said it’s hard to get, because again, like the first and second reconciliation bill, not a single Democrat wants to help get this country back on track. It’s frankly one of the reasons why their party has fallen off the ledge, why they’re going to lose in November, why we’re going to hold the House in the midterms.”On strengthening election integrity and securing the vote:“You look at SAVE America [Act], the House sent it multiple times to the Senate. We’re trying to fit it in a reconciliation bill, which means they’re using the 60-vote argument. It would only need 51 if we can get elements, not all necessarily, but there are some items of SAVE America [Act] we think can fit in a reconciliation bill. We’re gonna give that another shot and send it back over to the Senate. You know, they’ve gotta make some effort. I want to see that bill get to President Trump’s desk. Because it’s so important that you solidify the sanctity of the vote. Just show a picture ID to vote. Is that really complicated? It’s like an 85-15 issue with the American people. Everybody, including Democrats, get it. When you get on an airplane, you have to show an ID. You want to buy a six-pack of beer. How about literally the franchise of American democracy to vote? Just prove who you are.”On World Cup fans appreciating what makes America great:“It just shows you the hatred that fuels the far left. And I’m talking about the Mamdani wing of the Democrat Party that’s taken over. I love this country. 250 years we’re celebrating the greatest country in the history of the world. Look, if those people hate America, where are they gonna go, Maria? Go to Moscow, go to Beijing, I dare them. But you see these people coming from other countries, European countries, having the time of their lives. They’re just shocked. They’re looking at the stadiums going, my God, these places are amazing. Just the freedoms. They’re blown away by freedom, even coming from Europe, let alone if they come from a Middle Eastern, a foreign country, in the Soviet bloc. They love freedom when they come from other places because nobody else has it as good as we do. And yet liberals every day wake up trying to trash this country. It’s almost like they hate themselves, so they want to hate the country. This is the greatest place in the history of the world. And if you really hate it, go try another place out for a couple of weeks. You’ll be begging to come back.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1)

(Washington, DC) – According to a report by a non-partisan Congress tracking service, U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) ranks 4^th among all 214 Democrats in the House of Representatives in total funding for district community projects approved by his House Appropriations Committee for upcoming Fiscal Year (FY) 2027.

The report by Congressional Quarterly analyzed all approved Community Project Funding (CPFs) in the eleven federal funding measures passed to date by House Appropriations for FY27 (which begins October 1 of this year). There are twelve annual Appropriations-approved measures to fund the federal government (totaling $1.7 trillion for current FY26). The last one, Defense, does not include CPFs, so the report covers all House CPFs for FY27.

Congress implemented CPFs in FY22 to permit Members of Congress to provide direct federal funding to worthy state and local government and community projects in their districts. The CPF process is subject to strict rules: in the U.S. House each project must have demonstrated community support, requesting Members must personally disclose their CPF requests and attest to each project, and each project is subject to audit by the independent Government Accountability Office. Case’s disclosures are here: https://case.house.gov/services/funding-disclosures.htm.  

Case gained approval of all 20 of his CPF requests for a total of $18,936,300 in his Appropriations Committee-approved FY27 measures, some of which have passed the full House and the rest of which are pending passage. For the five full fiscal years for which CPFs have been approved, Case has gained approval of 74 CPF requests for a total of $325,809,228 in direct district project funding. A full list of all of Case’s approved CPFs by fiscal year and Appropriations measure is attached. 

“I’m very happy that we’re having a fifth especially successful year for our CPF requests,” said Case, who is serving in his eighth year on the House Appropriations Committee. “This federal funding option is hard to master yet invaluable in helping so many worthy state, county and community projects to deliver on so many diverse community needs that might not otherwise be met fully. While the dollar amount of each project may be small compared to overall federal funding of billions of dollars to Hawai’i every year, for many of these projects it is essential.” 

“My CPF requests come straight from my ongoing outreach and partnerships with my state, county and community partners throughout my district, looking to match the needs and opportunities I find with the various possibilities for federal assistance through Appropriations and otherwise. Then, once we identify worthy CPF possibilities that I believe can be approved by Congress, we work hard to mold them into solid requests that have a solid chance of approval and then shepherd them through the Appropriations process maze.”

Case used as one example his outreach to the Blood Bank of Hawai‘i in advance of the FY22 appropriations cycle. The Blood Bank was short of funds to build its critical new Kapolei center. Case sought and gained a $2 million CPF to assist and was gratified to visit the beautiful new center on its opening earlier this year.

Here are Case’s FY27 approved CPFs:

– $1.8 million for the City and County of Honolulu’s Chinatown Affordable Housing Project. These funds would help preserve much-needed housing by upgrading mechanical systems, making roof and waterproofing improvements and installing accessibility enhancements.

– $250,000 for the Hawai‘i State Department of Education’s Safer Hawai‘i Schools Pilot Program. These funds would enhance the security infrastructure for Ruth Keli‘ikōlani Middle School by helping to build a new security camera system.

– $772,000 for Loko I‘a Restoration in Pu‘uloa by the University of Hawai‘i. The Pu‘uloa estuary (today commonly referred to as Pearl Harbor) once supported 35 highly productive fishponds. After years of watershed degradation, elevated levels of contaminants have led to unsafe seafood consumption and diminished ecosystem function. This project would support a coordinated effort to restore fishponds in Pu‘uloa through remediation planning, restoration of fishpond infrastructure and invasive species management.

– $772,000 for the Enhancing Hawai‘i Cargo Security through Advanced High-Energy Cargo Screening Systems Project at the Hawai‘i State Department of Law Enforcement. With these funds, the Hawai‘i State Department of Law Enforcement would develop advanced high-energy cargo screening systems for Honolulu’s ports. This targeted investment will enhance the state’s ability to interdict illegal fireworks, weapons, narcotics and other contraband, while also strengthening Hawaii’s first line of defense against invasive species and other biosecurity threats entering through commercial freight pathways.

– $772,000 for the Food Analysis Research and Extension Lab at the University of Hawai‘i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience. These funds would establish the Food Analysis Research and Extension (FARE) Lab, which will serve as a hub for standardized data necessary to support local farmers and food innovators. The FARE Lab will use national standards to document differences across local species and cultivars that serve as staple foods in the diets of people living in Hawai‘i and the broader Pacific.

– $772,000 for the Marine Finfish Hatchery for Stock Enhancement Project at the Hawai‘i State Department for Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources. These funds would help establish the first state-operated marine finfish hatchery on Oahu at the Division of Aquatic Resources Anuenue Fisheries Research Center to support the protection, restoration and sustainable management of reef fish populations.  

– $772,000 for the Drone as First Responder Project at the Honolulu Police Department. This project would use automated drones and intelligent surveillance cameras to improve emergency response. The system will include drone launch stations, secure storage, maintenance areas, and real-time video streaming so drones can arrive at incidents within minutes. 

– $772,000 for the Waikīkī Flood Watch Test Project at the University of Hawai‘i. This project would develop a cyberphysical testbed that would transform how Hawai‘i predicts and responds to flooding. Unlike traditional systems that rely on rainfall alone, this platform captures the full picture of compound flooding, including sensors, computer models, digital twins and AI alerts to provide faster and sharper predictions of floods in Waikīkī. By providing earlier and more actionable guidance to city and state emergency managers, the project strengthens preparedness, reduces risk to businesses and residents and helps safeguard one of Hawaii’s most vital coastal communities, while demonstrating best practices for similarly situated communities nationally.

– $772,000 for a Critical Incident Response Apparatus (CIRA) for the Honolulu Police Department. This apparatus is a vital asset that enhances the Honolulu Police Department’s rescue and recovery capabilities across Oahu. Designed as a shield and barricade tool for rapid deployment, CIRA provides critical protection for the public and first responders during emergencies, including natural and man-made disasters, hazardous material incidents, terrorist attacks and other large-scale critical events.

– $772,000 for the Hawai‘i Port Resilience and Coastal Erosion Study at the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation. This study would address vulnerabilities from coastal erosion and changing sea conditions impacting Hawaii’s commercial ports by enhancing a digital twin model with wave modeling, vulnerability assessments, drone-based pier inspections and bathymetric surveys to advance resilience planning for Hawaii’s maritime system.

– $772,000 for the Applied Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity Research Laboratory at the Hawai‘i Pacific University. This project would establish a laboratory to conduct hands-on, applied research focused on securing AI systems, strengthening AI-enabled cyber defense and defending against AI-driven cyberattacks; while developing practical tools, testing environments and implementation guidance tailored to Hawaii’s defense contractors and critical infrastructure operators.

– $300,000 for the Security Water Quantity and Quality in the Ala Wai Watershed Project at the Hawai‘i State Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife. The Ala Wai watershed is currently heavily invaded by Miconia, an invasive plant that increases the propensity for erosion and landslides by limiting understory growth, destabilizing soil and decreasing water absorption. With these funds, the Division of Forestry and Wildlife would manage the invasive plant throughout the Ala Wai watershed by establishing field crews to remove the invasive plant, data management staff and coordinator positions.

· $1.9 million for the Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) for two projects:

• An aviation fuel tender, to significantly strengthen HFD’s ability to sustain aerial firefighting and rescue operations during extended emergencies. The tender would allow for reliable on-site fueling capability, ensuring firefighting aircraft can remain operational near the incident rather than losing valuable time traveling long distances to refuel.
• A helicopter hoist training simulator. The simulator would allow HFD’s personnel to improve their skills, rehearse emergency procedures and practice complex hoist maneuvers without placing additional strain on the aircraft. It will boost readiness and extend the life of essential equipment, enabling HFD crews to consistently provide fast, dependable aerial rescue services.

· $1.9 million for Wai‘anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center’s (WCCHC) Waipahu Clinic Expansion Project. This project would allow WCCHC to increase access to health care and social services and open a new Health and Wellness Learning Center in Waipahu to support the WCCHC’s nurse practitioner and dental residency programs to meet crucial health workforce needs.

·  $1 million for Kalihi Palama Health Center’s (KPHC) Emergency Resilience and Internal Renovation Project. This project would repair KPHC’s air conditioning system, purchase an emergency generator to power its elevator and medication refrigerators in the case of power outages, and acquire a digital panoramic X-Ray machine.

· $395,000 for Waikīkī Health Center’s Clinical Upgrade and Service Enhancement Project. These funds would support the upgrade and build-out of a new clinical space and several physician exam rooms that need renovation, along with the purchase of new pharmacy vaccine refrigerators.

· $250,000 for Kōkua Kalihi Valley’s Accessibility and Resilience Project. This project would modernize key facility components through the installation of a solar photovoltaic system, an entry ramp and a new elevator.

·  $581,533 for the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency’s (HIEMA) Kapolei Warehouse Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Renovation. This project would fund the construction of a satellite EOC on the west side of Oahu in a multi-use Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) warehouse. 

· $1,007,060 for HIEMA’s DHHL Warehouse Retrofit Project. This project would fund critically needed improvements to the same multi-use DHHL warehouse by installing an emergency power backup generator, automatic transfer switch and housing, ultimately strengthening Hawaii’s ability to pre-position emergency supplies and equipment on the west side of Oahu.  

The Congressional Quarterly report also ranked Case #102 among all 441 House members in total CPF funding for FY27. The current House Republican majority, as did the prior Democratic majority, allocates a disproportionate share of total CPF funding to Republican members. “My overall result was especially good given I am not in the current majority,” said Case. “It demonstrates the importance of committee membership, experience, relationships, solid processes and hard work in producing results regardless of who is in the majority.” 

On the House Appropriations Committee, Case is in his fourth year now of service on the Subcommittee on Defense and Subcommittee on Homeland Security, which together make up almost 60% of the total federal budget. He formerly served for four years on the Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science, and the Subcommittee on Legislative Branch.

·       List of all CPFS requested and approved for Congressman Case FY 2022-FY 2027 here

·       Link to Congressional Quarterly article here

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

Senate Bill Follows Successful House Passage of Pressley’s Discharge Petition to Extend TPS for Haitians

Bill Text (PDF)

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) commended Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), along with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and 16 other Senate colleagues, for introducing legislation to designate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which allows nationals from designated countries facing life-threatening conditions to temporarily live and work legally in the United States.

The Senators’ legislation follows the successful House passage of Congresswoman Pressley’s discharge petition to preserve and extend TPS for Haitians.

The Senators’ legislation preserves TPS protections for more than 300,000 Haitian nationals, offering a critical lifeline as Haiti continues to confront political instability, widespread violence, and a serious humanitarian emergency. While a federal district court temporarily paused the termination of Haiti TPS, the Trump administration appealed, and a decision is now pending before the Supreme Court.

“Since my discharge petition to extend TPS for Haitians successfully passed the House, we’ve been pressing hard to continue this fight in the Senate and advance this essential protection,” said Representative Ayanna Pressley (MA-07). “Our victory in the House was possible because of the strength and resolve of our broad, diverse grassroots coalition—and we are prepared to double down on our efforts to move this through the Senate. Protecting the safety, dignity, and humanity of our Haitian neighbors is the right thing to do, and our country is strengthened by their contributions to our communities, the economy, our healthcare workforce, and more. With the partnership of Senators Markey and Blunt Rochester, we are focused on delivering for our community members.”

“The Trump administration’s cruel, callous, and calculated attempts to terminate TPS for Haitian nationals puts thousands of our neighbors in immediate danger,” said Senator Markey. “Haiti is facing life-threatening conditions that have displaced nearly 1.5 million people. This legislation to safeguard Haiti TPS reflects both a moral duty and a recognition of the immense contributions of Haitian TPS holders to our communities. I’m grateful to Senator Blunt Rochester and my partners in Congress for standing together in the fight to protect Haitian TPS holders.”

“The extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for the Haitian community was rooted in an undeniable humanitarian crisis that required acknowledgment and increased protection. The Trump administration’s decision to terminate this TPS designation not only threatens the safety and stability of our Haitian neighbors, but the economic strength of communities across the country,” said Senator Blunt Rochester. “I’m proud to co-lead this legislation with Senator Markey to ensure the Haitian community is treated with the dignity and protections they deserve.”

“The cruel and improper steps taken by the Trump administration to terminate the Temporary Protected Status of over 300,000 Haitians in the United States are a sham at best and inhumane at worst,” said Leader Schumer. “These are our friends and neighbors who have fled Haiti during one of the most dangerous humanitarian crises in a generation, and eliminating their protected status puts them in immediate danger and undermines communities across our great nation. A bipartisan majority in the House already stepped up, and it’s time for the Senate to do the same. We have a moral obligation to get this done as quickly as possible, and I am committed to making that happen.”

“I was proud that the House passed my bipartisan bill in April to extend TPS for Haiti with Republican support,” said Representative Laura Gillen (NY-04). “This was a major milestone in the effort to preserve this protection for hardworking, law-abiding Haitians who contribute to our economy. I’m glad that Senators Blunt Rochester and Markey have introduced companion legislation in the Senate and I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this bipartisan effort to protect TPS for our Haitian friends and neighbors.”

The legislation is cosponsored by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Angus King (I-Maine), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii.), and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.).

Bill text can be accessed here.

“US Senators have the opportunity to voice their belief and support of a just immigration system that was created to support not only a prosperous United States, but demonstrate the humanity of America and Americans by providing a safe haven for those whose lives are in peril in their home countries. Supporting H.R. 1689 and the extension of TPS for Haiti is not only just and logical, it is both a moral and economic obligation,” said Tessa Petit, Executive Director of the Florida Immigration Coalition.

“As Haiti continues to endure extraordinary insecurity, political instability, displacement, and a worsening humanitarian crisis, extending Temporary Protected Status for Haitians is both necessary and urgent. We commend Senators Markey and Blunt-Rochester, and all Members of Congress championing this effort to protect the lives of more than 350,000 Haitians from being forced to return to conditions that remain extremely unsafe and untenable,” said Guerline Jozef, Executive Director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance.

“The prospect of forcing over 300,000 men, women, and children to return to Haiti at this time, while the country faces a sustained humanitarian crisis, is unconscionable. Revoking their legal status and work authorization will harm not only these families but the many American communities in which they live and work, including those relying on Haitian TPS holders for essential services. The Senate has an opportunity to exercise political and moral courage by voting to avoid this outcome, as the House of Representatives has done on a bipartisan basis. We urge all senators, regardless of political party, to act accordingly,” said Bishop Brendan Cahill, Chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration.

“Even the US government admits that Haiti is too dangerous for people to return to. The State Department warns ‘do not travel to Haiti for any reason,’ the FAA has closed the Port-au-Prince airport to US flights since 2024 and US Citizenship and Immigration Services recommended extending Haiti TPS last year. Our UN Ambassador warned that the effects of Haiti’s violence ‘threaten not only Haiti but the stability of the wider Caribbean and the Western Hemisphere,’” said Brian Concannon, Executive Director of the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti.

“Protecting TPS for Haiti is both a moral and economic imperative. Haitian TPS holders are our neighbors, workers, parents, caregivers, and contributors to the U.S. economy. We must do everything in our power to ensure they can remain safely and legally in this country while continuing to support their families, communities, and the Commonwealth,” said Dr. Geralde Gabeau, Chief Executive Officer of the Immigrant Family Services Institute (Boston).

“We respectfully call upon the United States Senate to take immediate legislative action to provide stability and certainty for Haitian TPS holders and their families. Congressional leadership is needed now more than ever to ensure that individuals are not forced to return to life-threatening conditions while Haiti remains engulfed in crisis. America has always been strongest when it balances security with compassion and law with humanity. We urge Senators from both parties to recognize the extraordinary circumstances facing Haiti and to support measures that preserve TPS protections and provide long-term solutions for affected families,” said Rev. Dr. Dieufort J. Fleurissaint, Chair of Haitian Americans United, Inc. (Boston).

“Haitian families with TPS are vital members of our churches, communities, and local economies. They must be protected from mass deportation,” said Bishop Dwayne Royster, Executive Director of Faith in Action.

“Deportation to Haiti, in its current conditions, divides families, and puts our community members’ lives at risk. A vote to extend Haiti TPS, strengthens the US economy, and saves lives and keeps Haitian families together,” said Paul Christian Namphy, Lead Organizer at the Family Action Network Movement (Miami).

“Temporary Protected Status (TPS) provides stability, dignity, and opportunity for hundreds of thousands of hardworking individuals and families who have built their lives, careers, and communities in the United States. Extending TPS is not only a humanitarian necessity—it is an investment in the economic strength, family stability, and well-being of communities across our nation,” said Thamara Labrousse, Executive Director of the Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center (Miami).

“Immigrant workers with TPS are a vital part of our care economy. They are also trusted members of our communities – neighbors who contribute to the places they live, who worship, send their children to school, and deserve the freedom to build full and dignified lives in this country, far beyond the hours they spend caring for others. Ending their protections means longer waitlists, deeper shortages, and more families forced to choose between a paycheck and caring for a loved one. We’re proud to support Senator Markey’s bill to extend TPS because you cannot build a stable care system on fear, and the dignity of the people who give care is inseparable from the dignity of those who receive it,” said Jenn Stowe, Executive Director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance.

“The half million Haitians who call the United States home deserve better from our federal government and termination of Temporary Protected Status is inhumane and unconscionable. We commend our legislative leaders, particularly Congresswoman Pressley and Senator Markey, for moving forward legislation to meet this moment and stand with our Haitian friends, neighbors and colleagues,” said Elizabeth Sweet, Executive Director of the MIRA Coalition.

“No matter if you were born in the US or immigrated to this country, we all feel the impact of the White House’s attack on TPS holders. SEIU members stand in solidarity with Haitians with TPS, as well as those with TPS from other countries. People with TPS are our friends, neighbors, extended family members, and coworkers. They are the essential workers that keep our economy going in good and bad times. They deserve dignity, respect, and a path to citizenship, not deportation to danger,” said Rocio Saenz, Secretary-Treasurer of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

The legislation is endorsed by Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti, Venezuelan American Caucus, Village Engage / Mill Village Ministries, Arab American Heritage Council, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Justice Team, NACCP, Refugee Advocacy Lab, Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project, Passionists International, Archdiocese of Miami, National Domestic Workers Alliance / Care in Action, Borderlands Resource Initiative, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS), Arab American Institute (AAI), Haitian Women’s Collective, G92, Summits Education, Communities United for Status & Protection (CUSP), Tahirih Justice Center, Presbyterian Church (USA)-Office of Public Witness, Florida For All, Movement Of Love For Haiti (MLHA), Voces de la Frontera, Good Samaritan, American Jewish World Service, Global Refuge, LIUNA, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration, Food Justice DMV, Haitian Americans United Inc, Bethel Evangelical Church, First Timothy Christian Church, Amazing Grace Ministries of PBC Inc, Global Justice Clinic (NYU School of Law), Haitian Americans United for Progress, Ephphatha Medical Care Services LLC, Good Samaritan Relief Inc, Haiti Solidarity Network of the Northeast, Jesus Lounge Ministry, HCLC Inc, IFSI-USA, Youthaiti, Network Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Faith in Action, Haitian Bridge Alliance, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), National Immigration Law Center (NILC), Fellowship Des Eglises Baptistes Haitiennes De Miami, Immigrants’ List Civic Action, Coalición de Derechos Humanos, Caribbean Georgia Votes, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team, Freedom for Immigrants, Volunteer Association and Fund of Florida, Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union, Hope Border Institute, Haitian-American Foundation for Democracy, Environmental Justice Initiative for Haiti, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), National Nurses United, NAKASEC, Semillas Colombia, Justice in Motion, The United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society, Black Liberation Alliance Movement, Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees, COSMOS, Quixote Center, Miramar Haitian-American Residents Business Owners, Church World Service, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), World Renew, Florida Student Power Network, Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP) – Maine, USAHello, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, Sonnen Lanbi an, Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef), Safe Harbor Circles, AEDAP, Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC), Immigrant Welcome Network Of Johnson County-Iowa, AFT, Li Li Li Read, Alternative Chance, Beraca Community Development Corporation, Community Powerhouse Consulting & Coaching LLC, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), Make the Road New Jersey, Voto Latino, The Workers Circle, We are CASA, Family Action Network Movement (FANM), National Partnership For New Americans, Catholic Legal Services-Archdiocese of Miami, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, Haiti H2O: Hope to Opportunity, Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM), Haitian American Lawyers Association of New York, Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition, South Florida Muslim Federation, National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC), Make the Road States, Unidos MN, Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition, Haitian American Alliance, American Immigration Lawyers Association, AFL-CIO, Lawyers for Good Government, Muslim Advocates, Union for Reform Judaism, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center, Power Up People, National Haitian American Elected Officials Network (NHAEON), Central American Resource Center-CARECEN of Northern California, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL), National Immigration Project, Bethlehem Haitian Baptist Church, Refugees International, Haitian American Alliance of New York, Hope Community Church (Charleroi, PA), Bethel Evangelical Baptist Church / SBC National Haitian Fellowship, Raising Haiti Foundation, Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church Haiti Committee (Arlington, VA), Konbit Lakay, Edeyouth Inc, and Haitian Lawyers Association.

Congresswoman Pressley serves as Co-Chair for the House Haiti Caucus and represents one of the largest Haitian diaspora communities in the country. She has stood in vigorous defense for Haitian communities and all immigrant neighbors amid Trump and ICE’s attacks against immigrant communities.

Congresswoman Pressley has been a leading voice in Congress pushing back against Trump’s threats to terminate Temporary Protected Status for Haitians.

• In April 2026, Rep. Pressley secured a major victory in the House of Representatives, passing critical legislation to extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti by a vote of 224-204. The effort, which Congresswoman Pressley championed through a bipartisan discharge petition, is a watershed moment in her years-long advocacy for Haitian communities and immigrant families, and marks an essential step forward in the fight to defend Haitian nationals from deportation.
• In April 2026, Rep. Pressley, alongside Rep. Wasserman Schultz and Senators Ed Markey and Chris Van Hollen, led 26 Senators and 157 Representatives in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court in Miot v. Trump, a consolidated case challenging the Trump administration’s unlawful termination of Haiti and Syria Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
• On March 28, 2026, Rep. Pressley’s discharge petition to force a House vote on extending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti successfully met the 218-signature threshold to move forward with bipartisan support.
• In March 2026, Rep. Pressley joined Haitian faith leaders and advocates to urge the Supreme Court to affirm the lower courts’ rulings that deemed Trump’s push to terminate Haiti TPS unlawful.
• In February 2026, Rep. Pressley applauded a federal judge’s ruling to temporarily block Trump’s move to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians. Ending TPS for Haitians would leave over 350,000 Haitian nationals at risk of deportation, many of whom reside in the Massachusetts 7th congressional district.
• In January 2026, Congresswoman Pressley, alongside Senator Markey, held a field hearing on the importance of extending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti. She documented this testimony in the legislative record. Footage from the hearing is available here and photos here.
• In January 2026, Rep. Pressley also organized a press conference in D.C. in January to sound the alarm on the harm of terminating TPS for Haiti on seniors and the U.S. care economy.

• On June 28, 2025, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) issued the following statement condemning the Trump Administration’s abominable termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti effective September 2nd, 2025.
• On June 5, 2025, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) issued the following statement on Donald Trump’s executive order that bans citizens of 12 countries, including Haiti, from traveling to the United States, and places partial restrictions on citizens of seven more nations.
• On March 18, 2025,  Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (NY-09), and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) led 62 of their colleagues in the House and 23 of their colleagues in the Senate in a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem demanding the Trump Administration redesignate and extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti, which the administration recently canceled on questionable legal authority.
• On February 20, 2025, Congresswomen Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Yvette Clarke (NY-12), and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20) issued the following statement condemning the Trump Administration’s decision to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti.
• On April 23, 2024, Rep. Pressley, alongside Co-Chairs Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), led a group of 50 lawmakers urging the Biden Administration to redesignate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), pause on deportations back to Haiti, extend humanitarian parole to any Haitians currently detained in Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s detention centers, end detention of Haitian migrants intercepted at sea, and provide additional humanitarian assistance for Haiti.
• On April 18, 2024, Rep. Pressley and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs led a letter to House Ways and Means Committee leadership emphasizing support for the early renewal of the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) and the Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) Acts, commonly known as HOPE/HELP.
• On April 12, 2024, Rep. Pressley joined Haitian-led activists, organizations, and a directly impacted person in Haiti for a press call urging federal action to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in Haiti.
• On March 27, 2024, Rep. Pressley joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and her colleagues on the Massachusetts congressional delegation in urging the Biden Administration to expedite visa processing for Haitians, particularly  for relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.
• On March 12, 2024, Rep. Pressley and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Cherfilus McCormick and Yvette Clarke issued a statement on the resignation of Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry.
• On March 6, 2024, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the recent jailbreak and State of Emergency in Haiti.
• On December 8, 2023, Rep. Pressley and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke urged the U.S. Department of State to withdraw U.S. support for an armed foreign intervention in Haiti and encourage negotiations for a Haitian-led democratic political transition.
• On December 6, 2022, Rep. Pressley issued a statement applauding the Biden Administration’s extension and re-designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti.
• On December 1, 2022, Rep. Pressley, Rep. Cori Bush, and Rep. Mondaire Jones led 14 of their colleagues on a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas urging the Department to extend and redesignate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
• On August 17, 2022, Rep. Pressley, along with Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Val Demings, Yvette Clarke, and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), called on President Biden to appoint a new Special Envoy to Haiti, a position that has remained unfilled since September 2021.
• On May 31, 2022, Rep. Pressley and Reverend Dieufort Fleurissaint, chair of Haitian Americans United, published an op-ed in the Bay State Banner in which they called on the Biden administration to withdraw support for de facto ruler of Haiti, Ariel Henry, and instead support an inclusive, civil society-led process to restore stability and democracy on the island. 
• On May 26, 2022, Rep. Pressley, along with with Representatives Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Andy Levin (MI-09), Jim McGovern (MA-02), and Frederica Wilson (FL-24), led a letter to United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Power urging her to act to ensure food security in Haiti.
• In February 2022, Reps. Pressley, Judy Chu (CA-27), and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07) led 33 other House Democrats on a letter to CDC Director Walensky demanding answers about the agency’s justification for treating asylum seekers as a unique public health threat, how these expulsions are being coordinated, how asylum seekers being returned to dangerous situations are being cared for, and more. Days later, Rep. Pressley once again called on the Biden Administration to reverse the Title 42 Order and other anti-Black immigration policies.
• On March 16, 2022, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Mondaire Jones called on Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky to fully end Title 42, cease deportations of people to Haiti and affirm their legal and fundamental human right to seek asylum.
• On February 16, 2022, Rep. Pressley joined Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01), Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), and 100 House and Senate colleagues in urging President Biden to reverse inhumane immigration policies – such as Title 42, originally introduced under the Trump Administration – that continue to disproportionately harm Black migrants.
• On February 14, 2022, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), alongside Representatives Judy Chu (CA-27) and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), led 33 other House Democrats on a letter to Rochelle Walensky, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, demanding answers about the agency’s justification for treating asylum seekers as a unique public health threat, how these expulsions are being coordinated, how asylum seekers being returned to dangerous situations are being cared for, and more.
• In April 2022, she joined her colleagues at a press conference reaffirming her support for President Biden’s decision to end Title 42. Full video of her remarks at the press conference is available here. Rep. Pressley applauded the Biden Administration’s end of Title 42 in a statement in April 2022.
• In September 2022, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Velázquez led 54 of their colleagues on a letter calling on the Biden Administration to immediately halt deportations to Haiti and provide humanitarian parole protections for those seeking asylum. The lawmakers’ letter followed the Administration’s resumption of deportation flights to Haiti as thousands of Haitian migrants continue to await an opportunity to make an asylum claim at the border. 
• In September 2022, Rep. Pressley joined her colleagues on the House Oversight Committee in demanding answers regarding the inhumane treatment of migrants in Del Rio, Texas, by Border Patrol agents on horseback and pushing to Biden Administration to end the ongoing use and weaponization of Title 42.
• On July 7, 2022, Rep. Pressley and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Andy Levin (MI-09), Val Demings (FL-10) and Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) released a statement marking the one-year anniversary of the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse.
• On November 21, 2021, Rep. Pressley and Senator Elizabeth Warren led the Massachusetts congressional delegation on a letter to the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) calling on them to coordinate with the government agencies of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to assist newly arrived families from Haiti. 
• On October 18, 2021, Rep. Pressley, and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Val Demings (FL-10), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), and Andy Levin (MI-09) issued a statement following the kidnapping of American and Canadian missionaries in Haiti.
• On October 18, 2021, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the civil rights complaint filed by Haitian families demanding a federal investigation into the heinous actions perpetrated by federal officials at the border.
• On October 22, 2021, Rep. Pressley, along with Oversight Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney, Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), and Reps. Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), sent a letter to Troy A. Miller, the Acting Administrator of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), demanding a briefing and answers regarding press reports of the inhumane treatment of migrants in Del Rio, Texas, by Border Patrol agents on horseback. 
• On September 17, 2021, Rep. Pressley and Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07) led 52 of their colleagues calling on the Biden Administration to immediately halt deportations to Haiti and take urgent action to address the concerns of the Haitian Diaspora after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti.
• On August 14, 2021, Rep. Pressley Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Andy Levin (MI-09) and Val Demings (FL-10) and Mondaire Jones (NY-17) released a statement regarding the recent earthquake in Haiti.
• On July 14, 2021, Rep. Pressley and Haiti Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Andy Levin (MI-09) and Val Demings (FL-10) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas calling on him to take a series of steps to support the Haitian diaspora amid ongoing political turmoil in Haiti.
• In July 2021, the Reps. Pressley, Clarke, Demings and Levin issued a statement condemning the assassination of President Moïse and calling for swift and decisive action to bring political stability and peace to Haiti and the Haitian people.
• In May 2021, on Haitian Flag Day, Reps. Pressley, Levin, Clarke and Demings announced the formation of the House Haiti Caucus, a Congressional caucus dedicated to pursuing a just foreign policy that puts the needs and aspirations of the Haitian people first.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Reprepsentative Kathy Castor (FL14)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Kathy Castor (FL-14) and Gabe Evans (CO-08) introduced the bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act to protect American families from the costs of energy and grid upgrades required for new data centers, while advancing American innovation in industries like artificial intelligence.

The Ratepayer Protection Act requires state utility regulators to establish rules to ensure that community members do not pay for the costs of building new power generation, transmission lines, and other upgrades to serve large-load customers, such as data centers. Without proper safeguards, families and small businesses in communities where data center development occurs could see higher electricity bills at the end of every month. 

At a time when Americans are increasingly struggling with rising energy costs and an aging electric grid, the Ratepayer Protection Act ensures that major technology companies that have committed to covering the full energy and infrastructure costs associated with new data center development are held accountable for their promises. As states consider new data center development, this bill provides states with responsible solutions to ensure that community members can benefit from those investments.

“My neighbors across Florida are grappling with skyrocketing electric bills. Ratepayers should not have to subsidize wealthy corporations’ growing energy demands, especially from AI data centers,” said Rep. Castor.  “The Ratepayer Protection Act safeguards consumers by ensuring these data centers pay for the energy and grid upgrades they need so hardworking families and local businesses are not stuck paying more.” 

“As America races to lead the world in AI, we must build the energy infrastructure needed to support this innovation and stay ahead of competitors like Communist China,” said Rep. Evans. “But Colorado families, farmers, and small businesses should not be forced to cover the costs of new power generation driven by these developments. The Ratepayer Protection Act is a bipartisan, commonsense solution that protects everyday Americans and ensures our nation can continue to win the AI race.”

The Ratepayer Protection Act builds on Rep. Castor’s leadership on the Stopping Hikes In Electricity from large Load Demands (SHIELD) Act, which she introduced with Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) in January.

Background

If enacted, the legislation would propose standards that state regulators could enforce when considering the integration of new large-load customers with a demand of 100 megawatts or more onto the grid. Those recommendations include:

• Recovery of the full incremental cost of upgrades by the large-load customer over a long period of time through a special rate charge or other agreements. This protects utilities and their ratepayers from being left responsible for upgrade costs associated with a large-load customer, even if that customer later reduces operations or leaves the system entirely.
• Financial assurances require the large load customer to pay for any generation, transmission, or other infrastructure necessary to serve their load, protecting utilities and ratepayers from that financial burden. This ensures large-load customers are responsible for the fixed costs associated with serving their demand rather than passing those costs on to families and businesses through higher monthly electricity bills.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

“Let everyone, of all backgrounds and in all regions of this country, commit to fighting for an America that oppresses no one.”

VIDEO (YouTube)

WASHINGTON – On the House floor, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) delivered a powerful speech commemorating Juneteenth, urging the country to honor ancestors through action, organizing, and by supporting restorative and reparative policies that bring Black America closer to freedom.

A transcript of the Congresswoman’s floor speech is available below and the video is available here.

Transcript: This Juneteenth, Pressley Urges America to Honor Ancestors, Press For Full Freedoms

U.S. House of Representatives

June 11, 2026

Mr. Speaker,

I rise today to celebrate Juneteenth, marking 161 years since the full enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation.

The Juneteenth flag was created by Boston’s own Ben Haith and insists that the story of our nation is incomplete without the ongoing work of liberation.

Red, white, and blue affirm that Black Americans are Americans.

An arc to symbolize the horizon of a future where America lives up to its ideals.

And a starburst in the middle representing the new era of freedom.

As we commemorate this sacred day, let us honor our ancestors not just through reflection, but through action, organizing, and restorative and reparative policies that bring us closer to freedom.

The freedom they dreamt of and fought so hard for.  

Let everyone, of all backgrounds and in all regions of this country, commit to fighting for an America that oppresses no one. 

From Galveston to Boston, our futures are tied.

Happy Juneteenth!

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Pete Aguilar (31 CD Ca)

Rep. Aguilar was joined by community leaders and civil rights advocates from the NAACP, the League of Women Voters and LULAC

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) held a press conference with local civil rights and community leaders to highlight the importance of protecting voting rights and fair representation from relentless Republican attacks. Ahead of the Juneteenth holiday, the press conference emphasized how 161 years after the end of slavery, Black Americans are still fighting for full racial equality, civil rights and fair representation.
In the fifty days since the conservative majority on the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act, Republican-led states have moved to eliminate majority-Black districts across the South through Jim Crow-era racial gerrymandering. House Democrats are fighting back against this disastrous decision and will fight to restore the voting rights that Trump and Republicans destroyed. You can watch the full video of the press conference here and find photos from the event above and here.
“Right now, voting rights, fair representation and our nation’s democracy are under attack because right-wing extremists want to take this country backward,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “Allowing Donald Trump and his Republican henchmen to dilute the voting power of Black, Brown and other Americans of color anywhere in this country means we risk turning back decades of progress in the fight for equality and justice. That’s why House Democrats will keep fighting back against these attempts to undermine our democracy and silence voters of color. Because in America, our democracy is strongest when every voice is heard and when our government reflects the people it serves.”
“As President of the San Bernardino NAACP, I believe protecting voting rights remains one of the most important civil rights issues of our time,” said Chache Wright, President, NAACP San Bernardino Branch. “We must stay vigilant and intentional in ensuring every community has a fair and equal opportunity to be heard.”
“Voting is the cornerstone of American democracy,” said Janet Bernabe, Deputy District 5 Director, LULAC; Vice President, League of Women Voters Riverside. “It is how people make their voices heard, hold the government accountable, and help shape the future of their communities. When people vote, democracy works. When barriers are placed in front of eligible voters, democracy is weakened. For Latino voters and all communities of color, this fight is deeply personal. We know what is at stake, and we know why we must continue to defend voting rights against those who want to take our country backward. We will not be silenced.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement after President Donald Trump formally signed a memorandum of understanding to end the war with Iran and the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz:

“President Trump made it clear that his war of choice in Iran would have to end in surrender. Unfortunately, it appears he has chosen to surrender to the demands of Iran’s theocratic despots. The agreement he signed is not a demonstration of leadership but an abdication of it. It betrays the troops whom he sent into harm’s way and the allies whom he asked to have faith in America. It is, in effect an apology to the Iranian regime and the IRGC and recompense. That is never how America should end a war. 

“This agreement gives Iran hundreds of billions of dollars, near-complete sanctions relief, and possibly the ability to impose transit fees in the Strait of Hormuz. The funds now being released are a windfall to the IRGC that can now be used to rebuild Iran’s terror proxies. The regime President Trump claimed would be overthrown remains in power to torment the beleaguered Iranian people. Most dangerously, there appears to be no clear progress toward preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

“The next sixty days should be spent pursuing an agreement that meets certain conditions – otherwise it risks deepening instability in the region and creating new dangers for America, Israel, and Gulf states. Moreover, Congress must assert its oversight role and have a say on behalf of the American people, whose trust this president betrayed and who continue to pay the enormous price of his war. President Trump has to answer for his decision to hand a victory to Iran in the shortsighted hope that it brings his party short-term political reprieve.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

Federal Dollars Are Supporting City of Cambridge’s Emergency Preparedness and Climate Resilience

Photos (Dropbox)

CAMBRIDGE – On Tuesday, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) convened community partners and local legislators in the City of Cambridge to celebrate the $1,000,000 in federal community project funding she delivered for Cambridge Community Center, Inc.

The federal dollars secured by the Congresswoman, which passed under a previous spending bill signed by President Biden, are helping the Cambridge Community Center install a clean, resilient energy system to prepare for power outages and climate-related disruptions. These investments will allow them to operate independently of the electric grid and ensure residents have a familiar, accessible place to turn during moments of crisis.

During her visit, the Congresswoman participated in a visit with community members accessing the building’s programming and held a roundtable discussion with Cambridge Community Center leadership, staff, community members, and climate justice advocates.

“I am so proud to deliver this $1,000,000 investment to establish Cambridge Community Center as New England’s first Resilience Hub,” said Rep. Pressley. “Not only will the Resilience Hub support Cambridge’s emergency preparedness and climate resilience goals, but it will also uphold the Center as a trustworthy, essential pillar of our community. I’m grateful to Rep. Decker, City Manager Huang, and Darrin Korte and all the staff and community members at Cambridge Community Center for your partnership in making this dream become a reality.”

“Congresswoman Pressley and I share a belief that true resilience is built by investing in both people and place. Together, we’ve secured millions of dollars for the Cambridge Community Center because strong communities are built not only through infrastructure, but through investments in families, behavioral health, and the environments that allow people to thrive.” – State Representative Marjorie Decker

“The City of Cambridge has worked closely with the Cambridge Community Center to become the first resilience hub in New England. With the assistance of a federal grant, the Community Center will be able to install solar panels, a backup generator, and a battery storage system. This will give a valued community partner the ability to operate off the grid during extreme weather situations, while ensuring the continuity of critical services for residents most in need.” – Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang

“Congresswoman Pressley’s $1 million investment in the Cambridge Community Center’s Resilience Hub is a major step toward making sure our community has a trusted place to turn during moments of crisis. For nearly a century, CCC has been a place where children, families, seniors, and neighbors come for care, connection, food, and support. This funding helps strengthen our ability to keep showing up for the community during extreme heat, storms, power outages, and other emergencies. We’re deeply grateful to Congresswoman Pressley for believing in this vision and for helping ensure that resilience is rooted in the relationships and community institutions people already trust.” – Darrin Korte, Executive Director, Cambridge Community Center

Photos from the event are available here.

Photo Credit: Congresswoman Pressley’s office

Founded in 1929, Cambridge Community Center has served the Cambridge community for nearly a century. Today, the Center supports children, families, seniors, youth, and neighbors through out-of-school time programs, teen programming, behavioral health services, food and supply distribution, community events, and other supports. Cambridge Community Center is already a place where residents come for care, connection, food access, information, and support. The Resilience Hub project is about strengthening that existing role so the Center can continue to show up for the community, especially during emergencies.

The project includes clean and resilient energy improvements, including solar power, battery storage, and backup generation, as well as related building upgrades that will help Cambridge Community Center operate more reliably during power outages and climate-related disruptions. These improvements are part of a broader effort to make Cambridge Community Center’s historic facility more resilient, sustainable, and prepared to serve the community in a changing climate.

Rep. Pressley has secured approximately $50 million in federal community project funding for the Massachusetts 7^th since Fiscal Year 2022.

• On May 6, 2026, Rep. Pressley visited Chelsea to celebrate the $922,000 in federal community project funding she delivered for Roca, Inc’s “Managing Trauma in Corrections” program. The federal dollars secured by the Congresswoman, which passed under a previous spending bill signed by President Biden, helped create the new program at Roca, which supports young people cycling through incarceration and correctional officers addressing and mitigating trauma.
• On September 23, 2025, Rep. Pressley visited Chinatown to celebrate the $425,000 in community project funding she secured for the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center.
• On March 27, 2025, Rep. Pressley visited East Boston to celebrate the $1 million in federal funding she delivered to expand the Digital Literacy (DigLit) Initiative in Boston, a critical program that helps workforce development programs address digital literacy gaps.
• On October 18, 2024, Rep. Pressley visited Randolph for the formal ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Turner Free Mobile Library, a bookmobile carrying books, movies, Wi-Fi, and other resources for community members, made possible by the $524,000 she delivered in funding for the library and STEM programming.
• On October 10, 2024, Rep. Pressley joined Just A Start, elected officials and community advocates and members for the formal ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil the Economic Mobility Hub at Rindge Commons, a 70,000-square-foot facility designed to address the evolving needs of the community.
• On June 18, 2024, Rep. Pressley visited Boston Medical Center (BMC) to celebrate $370,000 in federal community project funding she secured to support BMC’s Violence Intervention Advocacy Program.
• On June 18, 2024, Rep. Pressley visited Chelsea HealthCare Center to celebrate $1,150,000 in federal community project funding she secured to support Massachusetts General Hospital’s (MGH) efforts to address the statewide shortage of bilingual, culturally diverse mental health providers for immigrant and limited English proficiency communities.
• On April 22, 2204, Rep. Pressley and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) visited Nubian Square in Roxbury for a roundtable discussion to celebrate the $1,000,000 million in federal funding they secured for the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA).
• On March 28, 2024, Rep. Pressley visited Roxbury to celebrate the $1,000,000 in federal funding she secured to provide emergency childcare support for families experiencing homelessness in the City of Boston.
• In February 2024, Rep. Pressley visited Chelsea City Hall for a roundtable and press conference to celebrate the $750,000 in federal funding she secured for the City of Chelsea’s and City of Everett’s Island End River Coastal Flood Resilience Project.
• In January 2024, Rep. Pressley visited Somerville to celebrate the $2.4 million in federal funding she secured to support the community-led transformation of the Clarendon Hill housing community, an ethnically, linguistically and economically diverse neighborhood.
• In December 2023, Rep. Pressley visited Brighton to celebrate $400,000 she delivered for Amplify Latinx’s ALX Small Business Program.
• In November 2023, Rep. Pressley visited Roxbury Community College (RCC) to celebrate $1 million in federal community project funding she secured for Northeastern University’s Roxbury Associate’s to Master’s Workforce Accelerator (RA2MWA).
• In June 2023, Rep. Pressley visited Chelsea to celebrate $2,000,000 in federal community project funding she secured to improve the Broadway Corridor—home to an array of BIPOC-owned small businesses, vibrant public spaces, high frequency public transit routes, and dense residential housing.
• In April 2023, Rep. Pressley visited Randolph to celebrate $524,000 she secured for Randolph Public Schools to support a mobile library and STEM programming.
• In March 2023, Rep. Pressley visited Dorchester to celebrate $250,000 in new Community Project Funding she secured for Big Sister Association of Greater Boston’s one-to-one mentoring and enrichment programs for girls.
• In February 2023, Rep. Pressley visited the African Community Economic Development of New England (ACEDONE) to celebrate the $643,003 in community project funding she secured for ACEDONE to support small businesses in predominately Black, brown and African immigrant communities.
• In October 2022, Rep. Pressley visited The Dimock Center in Roxbury to celebrate $1 million in federal community project funding she secured to support substance use treatment and programming at the health center. 
• In August 2022, Rep. Pressley visited Randolph to deliver $275,000 in federal community project funding for culturally responsive resources and digital literacy tools for Randolph Public Schools.
• In June 2022, Rep. Pressley visited the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology to deliver $300,000 in direct federal funding for the development of a Clean Energy Building Automation Systems certificate and associate degree program.
• In May 2022, she visited Bunker Hill Community College to celebrate the $1,000,000 in federal community project funding she secured to expand the City of Boston’s Tuition-Free Community College program.
• In April 2022, she visited Randolph to deliver $1,000,000 in federal community project funding for a new school-based community health center at Randolph High School. 
• In March 2022, she visited La Colaborativa in Chelsea to celebrate the $300,000 in federal community project funding that she delivered for La Colaborativa’s COVID Employment Recovery Program.

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